Farm Pests & Diseases

In partnership with the community and industry, we undertake world-class research into the evolution and ecology of invasive species and the molecular biology and physiology of insects.

Integrated weed management (IWM) utilises a combination of complimentary practices such as grazing, herbicide application, land fallowing and biological control to help manage weeds.

Canberra based CSIRO Plant Industry scientist, Dr Peter Dodds, has been named by the leading science journal Nature as one of five crop researchers who could change the world.

CSIRO’s Plant Industry has appointed a new cotton researcher, Dr Junji Miyazaki, to the Cotton Management and Improvement team in Narrabri.

Australasia’s major livestock industries’ science and agribusiness conference – Horizons in Livestock Sciences – will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, from 28-30 October 2008.

To help protect Australia’s ecosystems, CSIRO is undertaking invasive species research at pre-border, border and post-border level.

CSIRO Livestock Industries’ Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL)  is supporting south-east Asian countries in their efforts to control and eradicate infectious animal diseases.

Invasive plants and animals (including invertebrates) are now the second biggest threat to national biodiversity after habitat loss

Sustainable mananagement and habitation of 'Outback' and 'Top End' Australia is an important goal which CSIRO researchers working in arid rangelands and tropical savanna environments are addressing.

In this chapter of the 2007 Snowdon Lecture, Dr Vallat outlines the positive trends that have been observed in the management of the avian influenza crisis. (3:27)

In this chapter of the 2007 Snowdon Lecture, Dr Vallat identifies the short, medium and long-term actions that can be taken to control avian influenza. (6:13)

On the hunt for exotic species for biological control use in Australia, Dr Tim Heard, a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO, often finds himself in faraway places offering rewarding experiences.

Currently undertaking research on Blackleg, a disease that affects canola crops in Australia, Ms Susie Sprague has found that CSIRO is a great place for PhD students to begin their scientific career.

This article from Farming Ahead contains four stories on the fight against a new wheat rust strain, the importance of Australian biological collections, a foot and mouth disease model in cattle and the fight against noogoora burr. (1 page)

This article from Farming Ahead looks at how international researchers, including CSIRO Entomology scientists, are narrowing their search for an effective biological control agent for lippia, a serious weed in the Murray Darling Basin. (2 pages)

CSIRO scientists have explored the use of gene technology to reduce the number of Australian cane toads.

Accidentally imported from Europe, European wasps now disrupt outdoor recreational activities and threaten native insects in southern Australia.